Basilica and Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo

Basilica and Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo

As part of a walking tour of Old Recife's Santo Antônio section and its large, lively square, a stop in the Carmelite order's Nossa Senhora (Our Lady) do Carmo basilica and convent is a must for a sense of the city's origins. The 1663 church's modest facade may be in need of a touch-up, but its gilded rococo altarpiece with precious stones is stunning, as are its elaborate side chapels.